Reinstall Windows 8 without losing data.

[daveza]

I had to replace my motherboard and now Windows wants to be activated again.

The old key does not work so apparently I need to reinstall Win 8.

With XP I would do a repair which would only overwrite system files.

How do I reinstall Win 8 while keeping all installed software and data ?

 

[ponder]

Phone MIcrosoft and they will help you out.

 

[])ragon_\/oid]

Or just phone the Microsoft activation center. Way easier than reinstalling.

 

[LaraC]

Goto PC setting and use Update/Recovery.

 

[Pho3nix]

Goto PC setting and use Update/Recovery.

^This. But click on Refresh or something. Gets your PC back to stock.

 

[grim]

Phone MIcrosoft and they will help you out.

This.

Goto PC setting and use Update/Recovery.

Not this.

^This. But click on Refresh or something. Gets your PC back to stock.

Or This.

The number is 0801 43 43 43

 

[daveza]

My original install was OEM and according to Msoft it can't be transfered to the new board.

So if I can't reactivate is there a way to reinstall and still keep programs and data ?

 

[bekdik]

My original install was OEM and according to Msoft it can't be transfered to the new board.

So if I can't reactivate is there a way to reinstall and still keep programs and data ?

Then you'll need to buy a new license. Once you have the new key change the licence via control panel\system\change product key

 

[killerbyte]

if you have the OEM installation media then put it in and do a fresh install. Windows 8 will see the previous install and put the contents of your Windows, Program Files and Program Data folders into a Windows.old folder.

Then you can just reinstall the programs and copy over your user folder. The installation won't delete anything.

 

[LaraC]

My original install was OEM and according to Msoft it can't be transfered to the new board.

So if I can't reactivate is there a way to reinstall and still keep programs and data ?

I focussed too much on your title that I missed the part that you wanted to keep your programs, sorry.
Using the recovery option will only protect your data and not the programs.
It is weird that MS don’t want to help with the OEM licence. Do they expect you to obtain another licence from your computer manufacturer?

 

[ponder]

Then you'll need to buy a new license. Once you have the new key change the licence via control panel\system\change product key

MS US gave me a new license key to replace a oem Win7 install after hdd failure & one letter on the license key sticker being unreadable due to scuff marks, this was after MS SA told me to go fly a kite or buy a new copy. MB change would probably be a different story.

 

[Claymore]

I had to replace my motherboard and now Windows wants to be activated again.

The old key does not work so apparently I need to reinstall Win 8.

With XP I would do a repair which would only overwrite system files.

How do I reinstall Win 8 while keeping all installed software and data ?

Call the activation number for Microsoft; there's no issue with reactivating when you've had to replace components due to hardware failure.

 

[daveza]

Thanks all.

 

[furpile]

I have phoned MS SA twice to re-activate my license after a mobo failure, although I have a standalone copy of Win7. When you phone them there is an automated process where you enter a code on your pc and they give you a new code based on that which you enter on your pc. However, if their system doess not allow this because its an OEM version, it might be more difficult. You can try and argue with them that its still the same pc you bought, you just had to replace a failed component.